Religious Studies Teacher Applicant Pool

Religious Studies Teacher Applicant Pool (2026-2027 School Year)

Bishop O'Dowd Mission/Charism

Mission: Bishop O'Dowd High School is a Catholic college-preparatory community, guided by the teachings of Jesus Christ, that educates its diverse student body to build a more just, joyful and sustainable world.

Charism:

Finding God In All Things Calls Us to:

Community in Diversity

Strength of Character

Academic Excellence

Kinship With Creation

Social Justice

Joy

Job Summary

Bishop O'Dowd High School is seeking excellent candidates for a high school religious studies teacher applicant pool for the upcoming 2026 - 2027 school year for potential openings. The classroom teacher is responsible for teaching 5 full-time, multi-level classes, ranging from 9th graders to 12th graders. Such classes may range from 9th grade Introduction to Religious Studies to 10th grade Foundations of Biblical Scriptures to 11th grade Christian Morality to 12th grade Peace and Justice. Classes will be assigned towards the later part of the current semester. The individual in this position will collaborate most closely with the Religious Studies department, ensuring consistency across grade-levels and content areas.

Other responsibilities may include teaching electives, maintaining regular office hours, supporting student co-curricular activities, and collaborating regularly with colleagues. Teachers at Bishop O'Dowd High School are responsible for planning, organizing, and implementing an appropriate instructional program in alignment with Bishop O'Dowd High School's Integral Student Outcomes. The individual in this position will collaborate most closely with their respective department team, ensuring consistency across grade-levels and content areas. Teachers are also expected to collaborate and communicate consistently with counselors to ensure whole-student support and success while maintaining open and engaging lines of communication with guardians and families.

Please note that only candidates who are of the Catholic faith and practice the Roman Catholic faith tradition will be considered for this position.

Job requirements may include but are not limited to:

Practice the Roman Catholic faith tradition

Plan, prepare, and deliver lesson plans and instructional materials that facilitate active learning and are in accordance with school standards

Observe and evaluate student performance and development

Use appropriate technology to support and differentiate instruction

Encourage and monitor student progress and use data to enhance or adjust teaching strategies

Provide appropriate feedback to students in a timely manner

Maintain accurate and complete records of student progress and mastery

Work outside the normal schedule periodically in order to collaborate with colleagues

Maintain restorative policies in accordance with the rules of Bishop O'Dowd High School

Participate constructively and professionally in department, school, and parent meetings

Participate constructively and professional in departmental and school-wide professional development

Participate in co-curricular activities such as social activities, sporting events, clubs, retreats, student organizations, student advisories, and affinity spaces as directed

A successful candidate will:

Communicate effectively orally and in writing

Articulate and skillfully promote equity and justice work as well as anti-biased teaching and learning

Establish a classroom culture that is built on strong teacher-student relationships and allows for risk-taking

Have comfort and skill in personal inquiry and reflection of anti-racist practices and racial consciousness

Provide a differentiated curriculum addressing various skill levels and learning styles/differences

Provide inquiry-based teaching strategies and real-world applications

Have familiarity with classroom-based technology and implement relevant applications for classroom instruction and student learning

Be self-aware and able to build on others' ideas, capitalize on others' strengths, and effectively share responsibility

Be coachable and open to constructive feedback from both peers and supervisors

Demonstrate a drive to learn and constantly seek ways to improve professional skills and implement best practices

Have knowledge of the developmental stages of adolescents ages 13-18

Initiate, fully participate in, and foster strong collegial and student relationships across diverse backgrounds

Demonstrate value and willingness to support and mentor students beyond designated class periods

Have knowledge of and experience with restorative practices

Have a growth mindset, positive attitude, flexibility, and passion for helping all students reach their potential

Support the Catholic mission and charism of the school

Work with pride and enthusiasm as a member of the O'Dowd community

Be flexible and seek growth and change opportunities

Required Qualifications

Demonstrated understanding of and passion for high school education and adolescent development.

Evidenced knowledge of and experience in subject area, culturally responsive teaching, and social-emotional learning

Proven ability to differentiate learning and provide experiences for varied learning styles

Ability to foster a safe, inclusive, equitable, and joyful learning environment

Nuanced understanding of DEI from a personal and/or professional perspective

Experience authentically engaging with diverse working environments

Proven success collaborating with colleagues and innovating practices

Bachelor's degree and/or related education or experience applicable to the responsibilities of the position

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Additionally, all personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, salary requirements and three references through the posting on:

Religious Studies Teacher Applicant Pool (2026-2027 School Year)

Pre-employment background screening is required for all positions.

For more information on Bishop O'Dowd High School, please see our website at:

Bishop O'Dowd High School is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its employment policies and procedures. It follows the Diocese of Oakland's policies prohibiting illegal harassment, retaliation or discrimination. However, as a Roman Catholic high school with a stated mission, goals and objectives that clearly reflect the teachings and educational philosophy of the Diocese of Oakland, Bishop O'Dowd High School reserves the right to require all current and prospective employees to commit to carry out their duties and responsibilities in a manner that clearly and unconditionally demonstrates support of and respect for the school's mission and Catholic identity. Persons who in good conscience are unable to agree to this commitment should not seek or accept employment at Bishop O'Dowd High School.

As a faith-based institution, we reserve the right to use religion as a criterion in hiring decisions, as permitted by law, as it relates to performing essential job duties.